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{{short description|Indian politician (1889-1964)}} | {{short description|Indian politician (1889-1964)}} | ||
{{About|Amrit Kaur, the Indian activist and politician|the Canadian actress|Amrit Kaur (actress)}} | {{About|Amrit Kaur, the Indian activist and politician|the Canadian actress|Amrit Kaur (actress)}} | ||
{{More citations needed|date=July | {{More citations needed|date=July 2022}} | ||
{{EngvarB|date=September | {{EngvarB|date=September 2022}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=December | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| honorific_prefix = Dame | | honorific_prefix = Dame | ||
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1887|2|2|df=yes}} | | birth_date = {{Birth date|1887|2|2|df=yes}} | ||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|2|6|1889|2|2|df=yes}} | | death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|2|6|1889|2|2|df=yes}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Lucknow]], [[North- | | birth_place = [[Lucknow]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]) | ||
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]] | | death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]] | ||
| alma_mater = | | alma_mater = | ||
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==Life== | ==Life== | ||
Amrit Kaur was born on 2 February 1887 in [[Lucknow|Badshah Bagh, Lucknow University Campus, Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] (then | Amrit Kaur was born on 2 February 1887 in [[Lucknow|Badshah Bagh, Lucknow University Campus, Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] (then North-Western Provinces), India. Kaur was born to [[Harnam Singh|Raja Sir Harnam Singh Ahluwalia]] the younger son of the Raja [[Randhir Singh of Kapurthala]]. Harnam Singh left [[Kapurthala]] following a conflict over succession to the throne, becoming the manager of estates in the former princely state of [[Oudh State|Oudh]], and converted to Christianity on the urging of Golakhnath Chatterjee, a missionary from Bengal, Singh later married Chatterjee's daughter, Priscilla, and they had ten children, of which Amrit Kaur was the youngest, and their only daughter.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Roychowdhury|first=Adrija|date=2018-01-24|title=Amrit Kaur: The princess turned Gandhian who fought Nehru on women's political participation|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/gender/amrit-kaur-the-princess-turned-gandhian-who-fought-nehru-on-womens-political-participation-5037044/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> | ||
Kaur was raised as a [[Protestant Christian]], and had her early education in [[Sherborne School For Girls]] in Dorset, England, and had her college education at [[Oxford University]]. After completing her education in England, she returned to India in 1918.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=1964-02-07|title=Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, 75, Dies; India's First Minister of Health; Gandhi's Secretary 17 Years, a Princess, Led Campaign to Eradicate Malaria|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/07/archives/rajkumari-amrit-kaur-75-dies-indias-first-minister-of-health.html|access-date=2020-08-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> | Kaur was raised as a [[Protestant Christian]], and had her early education in [[Sherborne School For Girls]] in Dorset, England, and had her college education at [[Oxford University]]. After completing her education in England, she returned to India in 1918.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=1964-02-07|title=Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, 75, Dies; India's First Minister of Health; Gandhi's Secretary 17 Years, a Princess, Led Campaign to Eradicate Malaria|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/07/archives/rajkumari-amrit-kaur-75-dies-indias-first-minister-of-health.html|access-date=2020-08-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> | ||
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===Participation in India's Independence Movement=== | ===Participation in India's Independence Movement=== | ||
[[File:Amrit_kaur_sahiba.jpg|thumb|c. 1933]] | |||
After her return to India from England, Kaur became interested in the [[Indian independence movement]]. Her father had shared close association with [[Indian National Congress]] leaders including [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], who often visited them. Kaur was drawn to the thoughts and vision of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], whom she met in [[Bombay]] ([[Mumbai]]) in 1919. Kaur worked as Gandhi's secretary for 16 years, and their correspondence was subsequently published as a volume of letters titled 'Letters to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur'.<ref name=":0" /> | After her return to India from England, Kaur became interested in the [[Indian independence movement]]. Her father had shared close association with [[Indian National Congress]] leaders including [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], who often visited them. Kaur was drawn to the thoughts and vision of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], whom she met in [[Bombay]] ([[Mumbai]]) in 1919. Kaur worked as Gandhi's secretary for 16 years, and their correspondence was subsequently published as a volume of letters titled 'Letters to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur'.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Following the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre]] later that year, when the British forces shot and killed over 400 peaceful protestors in Amritsar, Punjab, Kaur became a strong critic of the British rule in India. She formally joined the Congress and began active participation in [[India's independence movement]] while also focusing on bringing about [[social reform]].<ref name="bhardwaj">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/rajkumari-amrit-kaur-the-princess-who-was-gandhis-secretary-indias-first-health-minister/186245/|website=The Print|last=Bhardwaj|first=Deeksha|title=Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the princess who was Gandhi's secretary & India's first health minister|access-date= 18 October 2019|date=2 February | Following the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre]] later that year, when the British forces shot and killed over 400 peaceful protestors in Amritsar, Punjab, Kaur became a strong critic of the British rule in India. She formally joined the Congress and began active participation in [[India's independence movement]] while also focusing on bringing about [[social reform]].<ref name="bhardwaj">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/rajkumari-amrit-kaur-the-princess-who-was-gandhis-secretary-indias-first-health-minister/186245/|website=The Print|last=Bhardwaj|first=Deeksha|title=Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the princess who was Gandhi's secretary & India's first health minister|access-date= 18 October 2019|date=2 February 2022}}</ref> She was strongly opposed to the practice of [[purdah]] and to [[Child marriage in India|child marriage]], and campaigned to abolish the [[devadasi]] system in India.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
Kaur co-founded the [[All India Women's Conference]] in 1927.<ref name="bhardwaj" /> She was later appointed its secretary in 1930, and president in 1933. She was imprisoned by the British authorities for her participation in the [[Dandi March]], led by Mahatama Gandhi in 1930. Kaur went to live at Gandhi's [[ashram]] in 1934 and adopted an austere lifestyle despite her aristocratic background.<ref name="bhardwaj" /> | Kaur co-founded the [[All India Women's Conference]] in 1927.<ref name="bhardwaj" /> She was later appointed its secretary in 1930, and president in 1933. She was imprisoned by the British authorities for her participation in the [[Dandi March]], led by Mahatama Gandhi in 1930. Kaur went to live at Gandhi's [[ashram]] in 1934 and adopted an austere lifestyle despite her aristocratic background.<ref name="bhardwaj" /> | ||
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[[File:Mahatma Gandhi with Rajkumari Amrit Kaur at Simla in 1945.jpg|thumb|Rajkumari with Mahatma Gandhi, Shimla 1945]] | [[File:Mahatma Gandhi with Rajkumari Amrit Kaur at Simla in 1945.jpg|thumb|Rajkumari with Mahatma Gandhi, Shimla 1945]] | ||
The British authorities appointed her as a member of the Advisory Board of Education, but she resigned from the position following her involvement with the [[Quit India Movement]] in 1942. She was imprisoned by the authorities for her actions during the time.<ref name="pib">{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/feacontent.aspx?relid=151084|website=[[Press Information Bureau]]|publisher=Ministry of Health and Family Affairs|last=Srinivas|first=V|title=RajKumari Amrit Kaur|access-date= 18 October 2019|date=24 September | The British authorities appointed her as a member of the Advisory Board of Education, but she resigned from the position following her involvement with the [[Quit India Movement]] in 1942. She was imprisoned by the authorities for her actions during the time.<ref name="pib">{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/feacontent.aspx?relid=151084|website=[[Press Information Bureau]]|publisher=Ministry of Health and Family Affairs|last=Srinivas|first=V|title=RajKumari Amrit Kaur|access-date= 18 October 2019|date=24 September 2022}}</ref> | ||
She championed the cause of universal suffrage, and testified before the Lothian Committee on Indian franchise and constitutional reforms, and before the Joint Select Committee of British Parliament on Indian constitutional reforms. | She championed the cause of universal suffrage, and testified before the Lothian Committee on Indian franchise and constitutional reforms, and before the Joint Select Committee of British Parliament on Indian constitutional reforms. | ||
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=== Health Minister === | === Health Minister === | ||
After India's independence, Amrit Kaur became part of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s first [[Cabinet of India|Cabinet]]; she was the first woman to hold Cabinet rank, serving for ten years. She was assigned the [[Ministry of Health (India)|Ministry of Health]].<ref name="bhardwaj" /> In 1950, she was elected the president of [[World Health Assembly]].<ref name=":0" /> As Health Minister, Kaur led a major campaign to fight the spread of [[malaria]] in India.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> She also led the campaign to eradicate tuberculosis and was the driving force behind the largest B.C.G vaccination programme in the world. | After India's independence, Amrit Kaur became part of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s first [[Cabinet of India|Cabinet]]; she was the first woman to hold Cabinet rank, serving for ten years. In January 1949, she was appointed a [[Dame]] of the [[Order of Saint John (chartered 1888)|Order of Saint John]] (DStJ).<ref>{{cite web |title=Page 81 {{!}} Issue 38503, 4 January 1949 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38503/page/81 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> She was assigned the [[Ministry of Health (India)|Ministry of Health]].<ref name="bhardwaj" /> In 1950, she was elected the president of [[World Health Assembly]].<ref name=":0" /> As Health Minister, Kaur led a major campaign to fight the spread of [[malaria]] in India.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> She also led the campaign to eradicate tuberculosis and was the driving force behind the largest B.C.G vaccination programme in the world. | ||
As the health minister, Kaur played an instrumental role in establishment of the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] (AIIMS) in [[New Delhi]], and became its first president. Kaur introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha for the establishment of AIIMS in 1956, following a recommendation made after the Government of India conducted a national health survey. Kaur was instrumental in raising funds for the establishment of AIIMS, securing aid from [[New Zealand]], Australia, [[West Germany]], [[Sweden]], and the [[United States]]. She and one of her brothers donated their ancestral property and house (named ''Manorville'') in [[Shimla|Simla]], Himachal Pradesh to serve as a holiday home for the staff and nurses of the Institute <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Roychowdhury|first=Adrija|date=2020-08-27|title=Rajkumari Amrit Kaur: The princess who built AIIMS|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/rajkumari-amrit-kaur-the-princess-who-built-aiims-6570937/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> | As the health minister, Kaur played an instrumental role in establishment of the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] (AIIMS) in [[New Delhi]], and became its first president. Kaur introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha for the establishment of AIIMS in 1956, following a recommendation made after the Government of India conducted a national health survey. Kaur was instrumental in raising funds for the establishment of AIIMS, securing aid from [[New Zealand]], Australia, [[West Germany]], [[Sweden]], and the [[United States]]. She and one of her brothers donated their ancestral property and house (named ''Manorville'') in [[Shimla|Simla]], Himachal Pradesh to serve as a holiday home for the staff and nurses of the Institute <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Roychowdhury|first=Adrija|date=2020-08-27|title=Rajkumari Amrit Kaur: The princess who built AIIMS|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/rajkumari-amrit-kaur-the-princess-who-built-aiims-6570937/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaur, Rajkumari Amrit}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Kaur, Rajkumari Amrit}} | ||
[[Category:First Nehru ministry]] | [[Category:First Nehru ministry]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1880s births]] | ||
[[Category:1964 deaths]] | [[Category:1964 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Politicians from Lucknow]] | [[Category:Politicians from Lucknow]] | ||
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[[Category:Dames of the Order of St John]] | [[Category:Dames of the Order of St John]] | ||
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Punjab, India]] | [[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Punjab, India]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:India MPs 1952–1957]] | ||
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]] | [[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]] | ||
[[Category:People educated at Sherborne Girls]] | [[Category:People educated at Sherborne Girls]] | ||
[[Category:Gandhians]] | [[Category:Gandhians]] | ||
[[Category:Expatriates of British India in the United Kingdom]] | |||
[[Category:Women in war 1900–1945]] | [[Category:Women in war 1900–1945]] | ||
[[Category:Health ministers of India]] | [[Category:Health ministers of India]] | ||